Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. C. BOSWELL. GARY COUPLING.

' No. 550,156. Patented 1151519, 1895,

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM C. BOSVELL, OF CLARKSBURG, TEST VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,156, dated November19, 1895.

Application filedrMay 23, 1895. Serial No. 550,323. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM C. BoswELL,a citizen of the United States,residing at Clarksburg, in the county of Harrison and State of VestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Couplers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in car-couplers,and has for its object to provide such a device that shall operateautomatically in coupling cars and obviate the liability of said carsbecoming uncoupled by accident; and with these ends in view my inventionconsists in the details of construction and combination of elementshereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction and operation in detail, referring by numbers to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which--Figure 1 is a plan view of a draw-head embodying my improved coupler;Fig. 2, a longitudinal section showing the knuckle in a distendedposition Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of two draw-heads coupledtogether and showing the knuckle of one in the position assumed shouldits pivot-pin be removed or become broken; Fig. 4, a cross-section atthe line :c a; of Fig. 1, the coupling-pin being shown down Fig. 5, asimilar view on a smaller scale, showing the coupling-pin held up by theknuckle; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of the coupling-pin.

Similar numbers denote like several views of the drawings.

1 is a` draw-head, cast or otherwise formed with the draw-bar 2 andprovided with the lrecess 3 of proper shape to receive the knuckle 4.This knuckle is pivoted at 5 within the said recess, and its hooked end6 is provided with a concave surface 7 for the purpose presentlyexplained.

8 is a coupling-pin having the wings 9 and 10 adapted to slide in thegrooves 1l and 12, respectively. The wing9 when down is within the pathof travel of the toe 13, formed on the inner end of the knuckle, so thatsaid parts in the knuckle is held therebyin the position shown -in Figs.1 and 3, and in order to relieve undue strain upon the wing 9 when draftis brought upon the knuckle the bottom edge of said wing iits in thenotch 14, so that both the upper and lower portion of the said wing aresupported. To allow the knuckle to be swung in the position shown inFig. 2 in uncoupling, the pin S is raised until the wing 9 clears thetoe 13, when said toe will be free to pass beneath said wing and preventthe pin from dropping down until the knuckle is again returned to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

15 is a heel formed upon the inner end of the knuckle in order toprevent said knuckle from being withdrawn from the recess in thedraw-head, when the coupling-pin is down should the pivot-pin be removedor become broken by coming in contact with the side wall of said recess,as clearly shown at the right of Fig. 3. 16 is a spring interposedbetween the wall of the recess 3 and the rear portion of the knuckle7whereby said knuckle is swung to its distended position upon theelevation of the coupling-pin.

17 is a cap placed over the grooves in which the coupling-pin slides toexclude dirt and snow and limit the upward movement of the coupling-pin,or said movement may be limited by inserting a small pin in the hole 20.

18 is a hole in the outer end of the knuckle vforthe insertion of theordinary coupling-pin when the Well-known link is used for coupling carson which other forms of couplers are used to my improved coupler.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved coupler willbe obviously as follows: The coupling-pin having been elevated and theknuckle distended by the'action of the spring, said coupling-pin will beretained in this elevated position by the wing 9, resting upon the rearportion of the knuckle. Now should a car provided with a similar couplerbe backed ,until the knuckle of said coupler vstrikesv against theportion 19 of the distended knuckle, said knuckle willbe swung into theposition yshown in Fig. 3, thereby engaging the knuckle of the otherdraw-head, and the coupling-pin will drop by gravity when the toe 13 hasbeen IOO swung from beneath said pin, so that it will be seen thatcouplers of my construction :ict automatically in coming upon Contactwith each other.

It often occurs that u pvot-pin in antometic couplers as heretoforeconstructed becomes worn and gives way when :L train is in motion, thuspermitting a part of the train to become detached, which in many casescauses serious accidents; but bythe use of my improvement should vthepivot-pin 5 become broken the heel 15 will come in contact with the sidewell of the chamber 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and prevent thewithdrawal of the knuckle, so that no inconvenience will be occasionedby said breakage. The concave 7 permits the knuckles of two couplings toso interlock as to firmly grasp each other in the turning;1 of curves.

Having thus described my inventiolnwhfit I claim as new and useful isuln it coupler, a draw head having zt recess 3, grooves ll and l2ande'notch il, :L coupling pin provided with wings 9 and 10 slide-ble inthe grooves ll and 12, the wing f) resting in the notch 14, a knucklepivoted within the recess, toe and heel formed with the knuckle, seidtoe being engaged by a wing of the pin, und the hooked ends of theknuckle forming,1 a locking connection, as and for the purposedescribed. y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto nfiixed my signature in thepresence of two su bscribing,` witnesses.

VILLAM C. BOSXVELL. Witnesses:

D. 1I. BRADFORD, (l. l. LEAGH.

